RTA measurements - the real deal |
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Saul
Old Croc Joined: 15 June 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5912 |
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Posted: 30 March 2010 at 6:34pm |
ok this is a thread to clarify between everyone, the correct way to take RTA measurements of different cabinets.
So for bass bins: i have been RTA'ing with 1m distance from edge of box, and the microphone as close to the ground as possible, but not touching. Any objections? mids + tops: 1m again, but with the mic centered in front of the box - 4pi style. Ive seen some whacky old measuring styles, hence me writing this, so we're all clear. another note: if the mic can't take the SPL, measure at 2m distance, and add 6dB to the result, iirc - must check this though - cant quite remember. i remember a thread where rog went through a fairly detailed process - any one know the one i'm talking about? - I think it was following pfly's measurements of 1850 horns.. obviously for ultra real measurements, you'd do it in a anechoic chamber
Edited by Saul - 30 March 2010 at 6:38pm |
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Sinfinity
Old Croc Joined: 06 July 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1632 |
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this one ?
http://forum.speakerplans.com/1850-horn-measured-plots_topic26669_page2.html |
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Matt at ukamp dot co dot uk
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Saul
Old Croc Joined: 15 June 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5912 |
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perfect
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VPAS
Registered User Joined: 05 December 2005 Status: Offline Points: 1203 |
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nice, on this note...
As i undestand it, levels dont follow the inverse^2 law in the near field. For subs it generally aplies from around a meter - 2 meters away. and stacking multiples will extend the near field In fact, measureing in the near field is prone to wildey unpredictable fluctuations. (even getting louder with marginal shift away from the subs) So you could argue that you are better off measuring in the far feild and calculating the 1m response... but, if the near field is unpredictable can you calculate the levels correctly? is the 1m response even worth paying attention to? hmmm, my head hertz |
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n^2 modulo -P = number wang
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Timebomb
Old Croc Joined: 11 October 2004 Location: Lancaster Status: Offline Points: 2716 |
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Takeing absolute measurements is never going to be all that useful if you don't have very accurate kit and conditions to measure in, as they are meaningless until you compare them to something else, and that something else has to be measured the same way in the same conditions to give an meaningful insight.
It is kind of standard for bass cabs to measure at 10 meters at 100w, nearfeild measurements will be off for the reasons VPAS mentioned. How you define 100W ia a question, id probably go for 90V RMS with a sine wave run into a dummy load, you cant just stick a meter on the output of an amp because the output will drop when you add a load. I would look into how others do it though, not everyone does it the same way.... and if they dont do it the same way then comparing your result to theirs is a bit pointless Another way to do it it is gat the 2 cabs you want to compare and measure one with a signal, then measure the other one with the same signal, that way you get a useful comparison. How you mesure / what voltage you use / what spl the meter says is less important, what can be useful is the relative difference. |
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James Secker facebook.com/soundgearuk
James@soundgear.co.uk www.soundgear.co.uk |
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torch1
Registered User Joined: 25 September 2008 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 477 |
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Are there places you can go to get absolute measurements and if so, does anyone have any idea of the costs involved?
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Saul
Old Croc Joined: 15 June 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5912 |
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universities usually have anechoic chamber facilities - but probably v expensive, if they'd let you at all
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